Charitable Trusts

The Charitable Trusts Act 2022 (the Act) establishes the Western Australian Charitable Trusts Commission (Commission) to ensure that charitable trusts operate lawfully. The Act was proclaimed on 15 November 2022 and commenced on 21 November 2022.

The Ombudsman of Western Australia is the Commission.

Charitable trusts have a particular importance in Western Australia because many are established for the purpose of advancing the interests of Aboriginal communities and can amount to significant sums of money arising from settlements and determinations of Native Title claims.

The Commission, constituted by the Ombudsman of Western Australia, has the authority of a standing Royal Commission to investigate charitable trusts to ensure that they are operating lawfully, and to engage with the intended beneficiaries of these charitable trusts to ensure that their interests are being met.

Complaints about Charitable Trusts

If you have a complaint about a charitable trust, it should be made in writing and you can email us at charitabletrusts@ombudsman.wa.gov.au  or write to us at:

Ombudsman Western Australia
PO Box Z5386
St Georges Terrace
PERTH WA 6831

You can also call us on 9220 7555 if you wish to discuss your complaint first.